Grand Canyon NP--Cliff Spring Trail

Tips for Birding

In-depth information is found on the Grand Canyon National Park website.

About this Location

There are two short, easy trails near the southernmost overlook on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon (Cape Royal) – the level path to the actual viewpoint and the half mile route to Cliff Spring, where water continually drips from the ceiling of an alcove at the edge of a narrowish, forested side canyon, forming a few shallow pools and supporting an area of moss, ferns and other green plants. The spring is not particularly special but the view down the canyon is quite nice, allowing a tantalizing glimpse of distant red cliffs towards the wider Grand Canyon, and the trail makes a good diversion of around 40 minutes, round trip.

About Grand Canyon National Park

See all hotspots at Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon is considered one of the finest examples of arid-land erosion in the world. Incised by the Colorado River, the canyon is immense, averaging 4,000 feet deep for its entire 277 miles. It is 6,000 feet deep at its deepest point and 18 miles at its widest. However, the significance of Grand Canyon is not limited to its geology.

The Park contains several major ecosystems. Its great biological diversity can be attributed to the presence of five of the seven life zones and three of the four desert types in North America.

The five life zones represented are the Lower Sonoran, Upper Sonoran, Transition, Canadian, and Hudsonian. This is equivalent to traveling from Mexico to Canada.

The Park also serves as an ecological refuge, with relatively undisturbed remnants of dwindling ecosystems (such as boreal forest and desert riparian communities). It is home to numerous rare, endemic (found only at Grand Canyon), and specially protected (threatened or endangered) plant and animal species.

Over 1,500 plant, 355 bird, 89 mammalian, 47 reptile, 9 amphibian, and 17 fish species are found in the park.

Notable Trails

Many options are available for day hikers. Both the South Rim and the North Rim offer rim trail hikes that have spectacular views of the inner canyon, some on paved trails. Or you can choose to day hike into the canyon. Permits are not required for non-commercial day hikes.

Content from Official Website, Day Hiking - Grand Canyon National Park, and Grand Canyon National Park website

Grand Canyon Panorama Map